Canberra, 15/6: Australia said on Thursday it would introduce legislation to parliament to cancel Russia’s lease to build a new embassy in the national capital of Canberra, citing national security.
The move follows the conclusion of a long-running litigation regarding the leased site after the federal court ruled last month that an eviction order made by the National Capital Authority – a government body tasked with the planning of the national capital – was invalid.
“The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to parliament house,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters.
“To be clear, today’s decision is one taken in the national security interests of Australia.”